To link to the entire object, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed the entire object, paste this HTML in websiteTo link to this page, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed this page, paste this HTML in website

North Carolina Judicial Branch
Annual Report
July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013Mission
of the North Carolina Judicial Branch
To protect and preserve the rights and liberties of all
the people, as guaranteed by the Constitutions and laws
of the United States and
North Carolina, by providing a fair, independent, and accessible forum for the just, timely,
and economical resolution of their legal affairs.2012 – 13 ANNUAL REPORT | NORTH CAROLINA COURTS 5
Table of Contents
A Special Message from the Chief Justice and the NCAOC Director
Court Organizational Structure and Routes of Appeal
Personnel and Budget Quick Facts
State Judicial Council
District Courts
Superior Courts
Court of Appeals
Supreme Court
Court Programs, Conferences, and Commissions
Judicial Branch Budget
Legislative Budget Priorities for the 2013 – 15 Biennium
Significant NCAOC Service Area Highlights
New Courthouses that Opened in Fiscal Year 2012 – 13
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
18
19
22
This Annual Report is published online at www.nccourts.org/Citizens/JData. Twenty copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $36.40 total,
or about $1.82 per copy. This annual report was printed inhouse by the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts’ Print Shop.
2012 – 13 ANNUAL REPORT | NORTH CAROLINA COURTS 7
A Special Message from the Chief Justice
and the NCAOC Director
Dear Friend of the Court,
We are pleased to provide this fiscal year 2012 – 13 Annual Report of the North Carolina Judicial Branch. We truly are
proud of our North Carolina court system, and we thank you for this opportunity to share our successes, even during
this time of economic hardship.
This report describes the North Carolina Judicial Branch and all of its component offices. This report also presents
noteworthy accomplishments of the court system during the fiscal year.
For detailed and other information visit our website, nccourts.org; see our new section, “Judicial Branch Data and
Information.” This section of the website provides annual statistical and operational reports, activities of the North
Carolina business courts, fact sheets, and other court-related data.
Your interest in the North Carolina Judicial Branch is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Sarah Parker, Chief Justice
Supreme Court of North Carolina
John W. Smith, Director
North Carolina Administrative
Office of the Courts
8 NORTH CAROLINA COURTS | 2012 – 13 ANNUAL REPORT
Court may hear appeals directly from the trial courts in
cases of significant public interest, in cases involving legal
principles of major significance, where delay would cause
substantial harm, or when the Court of Appeals docket
is unusually full.
4 Criminal cases proceed to the superior court for trial
de novo. Civil and juvenile cases proceed to the Court of
Appeals.
5 Most appeals from judicial proceedings before the
clerk are to the superior court. A few matters, such as
adoptions, are appealed to the district court.
*The district and superior courts have concurrent original jurisdiction in civil
actions (G.S. 7A-240). Currently, the district court division is the proper division
for the trial of civil actions in which the amount in controversy is $10,000 or less;
and the superior court division for matters of $10,000 or greater (G.S. 7A-243).
Due to an amendment, from August 1, 2013, through June 30, 2015, either the
district court or the superior court is the proper division for the trial of civil actions
in which the amount in controversy is between $10,000 and $25,000.
Court Organizational Structure and Routes of Appeal
2
1 Appeals from the Court of Appeals to the
Supreme Court are by right in certain cases involving
constitutional questions, and cases in which there has
been dissent in the Court of Appeals. In its discretion, the
Supreme Court may review Court of Appeals decisions in
cases of significant public interest or cases involving legal
principles of major significance, and in cases in which the
decision of the Court of Appeals appears to be in conflict
with a decision of the Supreme Court.
2 Appeals from these agencies go directly to the
Court of Appeals.
3 As a matter of right, appeals go directly to the
Supreme Court in first degree capital murder cases
in which the defendant has been sentenced to death,
in Utilities Commission general rate cases, and in
redistricting cases. In all other cases appeal as of right
is to the Court of Appeals. In its discretion, the Supreme
Decisions of Industrial Commission,
State Bar, Property Tax Commission,
Commissioner of Insurance, Department
of Health and Human Services, Secretary
of Environment and Natural Resources,
and the Utilities Commission (in cases
other than general rate cases).
Administrative Office of the Courts
serves the Judicial Branch through these
divisions: Budget Management, Court
Programs, Court Services, Financial
Services, Guardian ad Litem, Human
Resources, Legal and Legislative Services,
Organizational Development, Purchasing,
Research and Planning, Technology.
*Jurisdictional amounts were changed by the General Assembly for
the upcoming year.
*Original jurisdiction: misdemeanor cases
not assigned to magistrates; probable
cause hearings; accept guilty / no contest
pleas in certain felony cases; civil cases
$10,000* or less; juvenile proceedings;
domestic relations; mental health hospital
commitments.
Recommendations from Judicial Standards
Commission; final orders of Utilities
Commission in general rate cases.
Original jurisdiction: probate
and estates, special proceedings
(condemnations, adoptions,
partitions, foreclosures, etc.);
in certain cases, may accept
guilty pleas or admissions
of responsibility and enter
judgment.
Original jurisdiction: all felony
cases; civil cases in excess of
$10,000*; decisions of most
administrative agencies.
Clerks of
Superior Court
Clerk Personnel
District Courts
Superior Courts
NCAOC Staff
Magistrates
Court of Appeals
1
4
3
Supreme Court
4
3
Criminal Cases
(for trial de novo)
Civil and
Juvenile Cases
5
1
2
3
4
5
*Original jurisdiction: accept certain
misdemeanor guilty pleas and admission
of responsibility to infractions; worthless
check misdemeanors $2,000 or less;
small claims $5,000 or less; valuation of
property in certain estate cases.
2012 – 13 ANNUAL REPORT | NORTH CAROLINA COURTS 9
Personnel (all funding sources)
Position Total
JUSTICES AND JUDGES
*Supreme Court justices 7
*Court of Appeals judges 15
*Superior court judges 112
*District court judges 270
AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL
*District attorneys 44
Assistant district attorneys 641
*Clerks of superior court 100
Clerk personnel 2,546.30
Guardian ad Litem personnel 145.125
Magistrates 654.10
Administrative Office of the Courts 388.90
Court support staff 1,065.625
Trial court administrators 10
**Other 45
TOTAL 6,044.05
Independently elected judicial officials; the Judicial Branch has 548 .
Judicial Standards Commission, Conference of District Attorneys, Dis-pute
Resolution Commission, Conference of Clerks of Superior Court,
Innocence Inquiry Commission, Chief Justice’s Commission on Profes-sionalism,
and Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission positions.
Personnel and Budget Quick Facts
Budget
Certified Appropriations
Total certified
appropriations, 2012 – 13
$432,806,800
Percent decrease from 2011 – 12 -1.39%
Total certified appropriations as
a percent of total state
General Fund appropriations
2.14%
Workload Formulas
The North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts
(NCAOC) partners with the National Center for State
Courts to determine staffing needs for district court judg-es,
clerks of superior court staff, magistrates, assistant
district attorneys, and victim witness legal assistants.
Using extensive time study information, a case weight
based approach was employed to determine staffing
shortfalls. Using the same approach, NCAOC has
conducted workload studies for family court case
coordinators and custody mediators.
The workload and staffing needs information is used to
request, if needed, additional resources from the General
Assembly. Because the current fiscal situation does not per-mit
the filling of all vacancies, this information is the basis
of the vacancy management system. Through this system,
when resources permit some vacancies to be filled, vacan-cies
are authorized to be filled first in the offices where
workload most significantly exceeds staffing resources.
Expansion Needs
As we close out the 2011 – 13 biennium, the Judicial
Branch continues to have constitutionally mandated servic-es
that are either unfunded or underfunded. These services
include foreign language access; juror and witness fees; pay
plan restoration for assistant and deputy clerks and mag-istrates;
technology advancements; and adding employees
based on needs as determined by workload formulas.
*
**
10 NORTH CAROLINA COURTS | 2012 – 13 ANNUAL REPORT
The State Judicial Council is an advisory and oversight
body for the Judicial Branch, chaired by the chief justice
of the Supreme Court of North Carolina and consisting
of representatives from every component of the court sys-tem,
the bar, and non-attorney public members. Its gen-eral
duties (refer to the North Carolina General Statutes)
encompass studying and monitoring the operations of the
court system and identifying areas for improvement.
The Judicial Council’s specific areas of responsibility include:
Advising the chief justice on priorities for funding
Conferring with the chief justice on the budget
prepared by the North Carolina Administrative
Office of the Courts (NCAOC)
Recommending to the General Assembly the salaries
of justices and judges and changes in expense
allowances, benefits, and other compensation for
other judicial officials
Recommending the creation of judgeships
Recommending to the chief justice performance
standards for all courts and all judicial officials
Implementing guidelines for the assignment
and management of cases, including monitoring
the effectiveness of alternative dispute
resolution programs
Recommending changes to the boundaries of
judicial districts or divisions
Monitoring the administration of justice and
assessing the effectiveness of the Judicial
Branch in serving the public and advising
the chief justice and the General Assembly on
changes needed to assist the General Court of
Justice to better fulfill its mission
Members of the State Judicial Council
as of June 30, 2013
Judicial Branch Officials
Honorable Sarah Parker
Chief justice
Supreme Court of North Carolina
Judicial Council chair
Honorable John C. Martin
Chief judge
North Carolina Court of Appeals
Honorable Robert Hobgood
Senior resident superior court judge
Honorable Mac Cameron
Chief district court judge
Honorable Brad Greenway
District attorney
Honorable Archie Smith
Clerk of superior court
Ms. LeAnn Melton
Public defender
Mr. Lionel Gilbert
Magistrate
Other Members
Mr. Hugh Campbell, III
Dr. Richard Dean
Mr. Robert Harper
Mr. John Wayne Kahl
Mr. Tom Maher
Mr. Fred H. Moody
Mr. James Phillips
Mr. Edwin Speas
State Judicial Council
2012 – 13 ANNUAL REPORT | NORTH CAROLINA COURTS 11
District Courts
District courts hear cases involving civil, criminal, and
juvenile matters, as well as appeals from the magistrate.
Like superior court, district court sits in the county seat
of each county. It may also sit in certain other cities and
towns specifically authorized by the General Assembly.
Civil cases such as divorce, custody, child support, and
cases involving less than $10,000 are heard in district
court, along with criminal cases involving misdemeanors
and infractions. Civil cases are heard by a jury if a party
requests one, but certain cases are always decided by a
judge without a jury, such as child custody disputes. The
district court also hears juvenile cases (age 16 and under)
that involve delinquency issues, and it has the authority
to hear juvenile undisciplined cases (ages 16 and 17).
It also considers abuse, neglect, and dependency cases
involving children younger than 18.
Read more in the 2012 – 13 Statistical and Operational
Report for Trial Courts, which is available on the Data
and Information section of www.nccourts.org.
Magistrates
Magistrates are appointed by the senior resident superior
court judge from nominations provided by the clerk of
superior court.
Magistrates accept guilty pleas for minor misdemeanors
and infractions, such as for hunting or fishing violations
or for traffic violations, and may accept waivers of trial
for certain worthless check cases if authorized by the
chief district court judge. In civil cases, the magistrate
is authorized to try small claims cases ($5,000 or less),
landlord eviction cases, and suits for recovery of personal
property and motor vehicle mechanics’ liens.
Caseload inventory
Case type Filed Disposed
Civil 183,835 188,237
Civil magistrate
(small claims)
218,908 219,970
Criminal – nontraffic 583,286 500,383
Criminal – traffic 905,229 997,446
Infractions 592,460 641,055
Civil license
revocation
39,902 —
Manner of disposition
Case type
Jury
trial
Judge
trial
Magistrate
trial
Voluntary
dismissal
Final order /
judgment
w / o trial
Clerk Other*
Civil cases 163 62,704 97 28,698 43,352 26,308 26,915
Civil magistrate
(small claims)
2 193 151,575 47,778 244 38 20,140
“Other” includes dismissal on order of the court and discontinued dispositions.
Case type Trial Plea
Dismissal
with leave
Dismissal
without
leave
Dismissal after
deferred
prosecution
Other*
Criminal – nontraffic 20,649 182,455 16,471 284,454 18,696 120,865
Criminal – traffic 11,181 145,066 89,487 509,693 756 241,262
“Other” includes felony heard and bound over, probable cause not found, probable cause waived, worthless check waiver,
and felony superseding indictment.
*”Other” includes dismissal on order **”Other” includes felony heard and bound over, probable cause not founmd,e nprt.ob aobfl et hcea cuoseu rwt aaivnedd d, iwscoornthtilneusesd c.h eck waiver, and felony superseding indict-
Case type Waiver Nonwaiver
Infractions 304,116 336,939
*
*
12 NORTH CAROLINA COURTS | 2012 – 13 ANNUAL REPORT
Superior Courts
All felony criminal cases, civil cases involving more than
$10,000, and misdemeanor and infraction appeals from
district court are tried in superior court. A jury of 12
must decide the case for any criminal defendant who
pleads not guilty. In civil cases, a judge generally will
decide the case without a jury, unless a party to the case
requests one.
Superior court is divided into eight divisions and 50
districts across the state. Every six months, superior
court judges rotate among the districts within their
divisions. The rotation system helps minimize conflicts
of interest that might result from having a permanent
judge in one district.
The North Carolina Business Court is a specialized forum
of the North Carolina State Courts’ trial division. Cases
involving complex and significant issues of corporate
Caseload inventory
Case type Filed Disposed
Civil cases* 21,485 24,002
Estates 68,444 69,088
Special proceedings 67,638 65,239
Criminal – nontraffic 121,910 146,621
Criminal – traffic 9,891 10,479
Manner of disposition
Case type
Jury
trial
Judge
trial
Voluntary
dismissal
Final order /
Judgment w / o
trial
Clerk Other*
Civil cases 312 4,016 11,555 3,131 2,408 2,580
Estates — 2 14 13 68,866 193
Special Proceedings** 4 185 21,388 134 40,680 2,848
”Other” includes magistrate trial, dismissal on order of the court, and discontinued.
The number of Special Proceedings cases filed and disposed reflects those cases that are non-confidential.
Case type Trial Plea
Dismissal
with leave
Dismissal
without
leave
Dismissal
after deferred
prosecution
Other*
Criminal – nontraffic 2,579 77,868 2,008 47,584 894 15,688
Criminal – traffic 304 2,447 292 3,777 2 3,657
”Other” includes speedy trial dismissals.
”Civil cases” include cases heard by business court.
and commercial law in our state are assigned by the chief
justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina to a
special superior court judge who oversees resolution of all
matters in the case through trial.
Read more in the 2012 – 13 Statistical and Operational
Report for Trial Courts, which is available on the Data
and Information section of www.nccourts.org.
*
*
**
*
2012 – 13 ANNUAL REPORT | NORTH CAROLINA COURTS 13
Filings and dispositions of
appeals and petitions
Fiscal Year Filings Dispositions
2012 – 13 2,564 2,490
2011 – 12 2,594 2,775
2010 – 11 2,549 2,671
2009 – 10 2,493 2,126
2008 – 09 2,502 2,307
2007 – 08 2,424 2,567
2006 – 07 2,484 2,634
2005 – 06 2,707 2,973
2004 – 05 2,719 2,731
2003 – 04 2,674 2,562
Filings and dispositions
Cases filed Number of cases
Cases on appeal 1,565
Petitions 999
Motions 3,759
Court of Appeals
The Court of Appeals is the state’s intermediate appellate
court. The court has 15 judges who serve eight-year
terms and hear cases in panels of three. The Court of
Appeals decides only questions of law in cases appealed
from superior and district courts and from some
administrative agencies of the executive branch. Appeals
range from infractions to non-capital murder cases.
If there has been a dissent in an opinion of the Court of
Appeals, the parties to the case have the right to have the
Supreme Court review the decision. If there is no dissent,
then the Supreme Court may still review the case upon a
party’s petition.
These tables summarize filing and disposition activity in the Court of Appeals.
In addition to trend data for the past 10 years, these tables provide filings
and dispositions for cases on appeal, petitions, and motions during fiscal year
2012 – 13. “Cases on appeal” include cases appealed from district courts,
superior courts, and administrative agencies. They are counted as appeals
only after a record is filed with the clerk’s office and a docket number is
assigned. The “petition” category includes petitions involving only the four
“extraordinary” writs set out in Article V of the Rules of Appellate Procedure:
certiorari, mandamus, prohibition, and supersedeas. “Motions” encompass
any type of relief sought from the Court of Appeals, either in a case already
filed with the Court of Appeals, or one on its way to the Court of Appeals but
not yet filed.
Cases on appeal represent the largest portion of the Court of Appeals’
workload, since most are disposed by written opinion. The other methods of
disposition include the court’s dismissal of the appeal and an appealing party’s
withdrawal of the appeal.
Read more in the 2012 – 13 Statistical and Operational
Report for the Appellate Courts, which is available on the
Data and Information section of www.nccourts.org.
14 NORTH CAROLINA COURTS | 2012 – 13 ANNUAL REPORT
Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of North Carolina is the state’s
highest court, and the state has no further appeal from
its decisions. The court comprises the chief justice and
six associate justices, each of whom serves an eight-year
term. The Supreme Court makes no determination of fact;
rather, it considers whether error occurred in trial or in
judicial interpretation of the law. The chief justice also
serves as the head of the Judicial Branch.
Read more in the 2012 – 13 Statistical and Operational
Report for the Appellate Courts, which is available on the
Data and Information section of www.nccourts.org.
Petitions for review are cases in which the court is asked to accept discretionary review of decisions of the Court of Appeals and other tribunals.
The Appeals category comprises cases within the court’s appellate jurisdiction.
Caseload inventory
Cases filed
Begin pending
(7/1/12)
Filed Disposed
End pending
(6/30/13)
PETITIONS FOR REVIEW*
Civil domestic 3 18 19 2
Juvenile 1 24 17 8
Other civil 74 247 252 69
Criminal (including death sentences) 92 341 346 88
Administrative agency decision 0 2 2 0
Total petitions for review 170 632 636 166
APPEALS**
Civil domestic 2 3 3 2
Petitions for review granted that
became civil domestic appeals
0 1 0 1
Juvenile 1 0 1 0
Petitions for review granted that
became juvenile appeals
0 1 0 1
Other civil 23 37 38 22
Petitions for review granted that
became other civil appeals
0 16 15 1
Criminal, defendant sentenced
to death
2 3 4 1
Other criminal 24 56 63 17
Petitions for review granted that
became other criminal appeals
0 22 19 3
Administrative agency decision 0 0 0 0
Petitions for review granted
that became appeals of
administrative agency decision
0 0 0 0
Total appeals 52 139 143 48
OTHER PROCEEDINGS
Rule 16(b) additional issues 10 10
Motions 659 661
Total other proceedings 669 671
*
**
2012 – 13 ANNUAL REPORT | NORTH CAROLINA COURTS 15
Court Programs, Conferences, and Commissions
Program Description
Alternative dispute
resolution services
Offers a less adversarial, more expeditious process for settling legal disputes
Child custody
mediation services
Provides neutral, non-adversarial court-ordered mediation services in cases
involving custody / visitation of minor children parenting agreements
Problem solving courts
and other services
Local special courts and initiatives managed and operated by superior and
district courts that attempt to address challenges before them
Foreign language
interpreting services
Helps facilitate equal access to justice for limited English proficient (LEP)
speaking and / or deaf and hard of hearing people involved in court proceedings
Guardian ad Litem
Team representation model consisting of attorney advocates, volunteers,
and staff appointed to protect and promote the best interest of abused and
neglected children under the jurisdiction of North Carolina juvenile courts
Juvenile Court
Improvement Project
Coordinates the management of child abuse, neglect, and dependency cases to
ensure timely, efficient, and effective resolution of cases
Unified family court
Coordinates the management of family law cases to ensure timely and efficient
resolution of legal matters within established time standards
Conference Description
Conference of Clerks
of Superior Court
Serves as the primary point of contact between the 100 elected clerks of
superior court, the General Assembly, the NCAOC, and other state, local, and
public entities to ensure the effective and efficient exchange of information
Conference of District Attorneys
The Conference of District Attorneys serves the 44 Elected District Attorneys in
their pursuit of justice and improvement of the administration of criminal law
by providing training, materials, research, technical support and monitoring
criminal legislation.
Commission Description
Chief Justice’s Commission
on Professionalism
Enhances professionalism among North Carolina’s lawyers while providing
ongoing attention and assistance to ensure the practice of law remains a high
calling, dedicated to the service of clients and the public good
Dispute Resolution Commission
Certifies and regulates private mediators who serve North Carolina’s courts.
Also recommends dispute resolution policy, provides support to court-based
mediation programs and certifies mediation training programs
Innocence Inquiry Commission
Reviews, investigates, and hears post-conviction innocence claims if new
evidence of innocence comes to light by providing an independent and
balanced truth-seeking forum
Judicial Standards Commission
Considers complaints against state district, superior, and appellate court judges
and justices and, where appropriate, makes recommendations for discipline
Sentencing and Policy Advisory
Commission
Makes recommendations to the General Assembly for the modification of
sentencing laws and policies, and for the addition, deletion, or expansion of
sentencing options as necessary to achieve policy goals
State Judicial Council
Advisory and oversight body for the Judicial Branch of government, chaired
by the chief justice of the Supreme Court and consisting of representatives
from every component of the court system, the bar, and public, non-attorney
members to fulfill its duties as described in G.S. 7A-409.1
16 NORTH CAROLINA COURTS | 2012 – 13 ANNUAL REPORT
Detailed budget information is in the Financial Statistical
and Operational Report on www.nccourts.org.
Background
Under the North Carolina Constitution, the Judicial
Branch is established as an equal branch of state govern-ment
with the legislative and executive branches. North
Carolina’s court system, called the General Court of
Justice, is a unified statewide and state-operated system.
The majority of operating expenses of the Judicial
Branch are paid by the state, including salaries and travel
expenses of all court officials, juror and witness fees, and
equipment and office supplies for the judicial system. By
state statute, G.S. 7A – 302, counties and municipalities
are responsible for the physical facilities occupied by
court personnel across the state.
The chief justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina
appoints the director of the North Carolina Administra-tive
Office of the Courts (NCAOC). G.S. 7A – 343 sets
forth the duties of the director, which include identifying
staffing needs and managing and authorizing expenditures
for the judicial budget.
Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2012 – 13 Budget
The Judicial Branch began fiscal year (FY) 2012 – 13 with
$432.8 million in appropriations from the General
Assembly; this appropriation represents 2.14 percent of
the state’s overall General Fund of $20.2 billion.
Reductions to the 2012 – 13 Budget
Total cuts to the Judicial Branch budget for FY 2012 – 13
were $44.3 million, approximately 9 percent of the
$459,330,244 projected budget for the fiscal year.
How the Budget is Spent
Of the Judicial Branch’s $432.8 million adjusted budget
as approved by the General Assembly, 92 percent of it
was used for employee salaries and benefits; this includes
$136.8 million used to pay salaries and benefits for
elected judicial officials, magistrates, and appointed
officials whose offices are constitutionally based.
The remaining 8 percent of the Judicial Branch
FY 2012 – 13 budget supported operations. Nearly
86 percent of the budget was devoted to local court
operations; central administration accounted for 3
percent; and technology services, equipment, and
statewide infrastructure together accounted for 8 percent.
Appellate courts, independent commissions, and pass-through
appropriations accounted for the remaining 3
percent (Chart 2, next page).
Monies Collected by the Courts
Do Not Stay with the Courts
Monies disbursed – such as fines, fees, forfeitures,
restitution, and civil judgments that are paid to the
courts – come through clerk of superior court offices.
Although the monies are collected and receipted by
the courts, less than one percent of these monies stays
with the court system. Monies are remitted to citizens,
counties, the state treasurer, and other state agencies.
For FY 2012 – 13, $773.9 million was disbursed by clerks
of superior court – more than 43 percent went to the
state treasurer, other state agencies, and law enforcement
retirement (Chart 1). Of the General Court of Justice
monies remitted to the state treasurer, funds equivalent to
55 percent were appropriated by the General Assembly to
the Judicial Branch.
Counties and municipalities receive payments for fines,
forfeitures (i.e., bond forfeitures), facilities fees, officer
fees, pretrial civil revocation fees, service of process fees,
and jail fees. City crime labs receive fees paid by offenders
for lab work conducted at their facilities. Fines and
forfeitures, which are required by the State Constitution
to go to local schools, make up the largest sum of money
received by counties. Facilities fees, which are paid as
part of court costs in both criminal and civil cases, are the
next largest source of revenue. In FY 2012 – 13, the court
system disbursed nearly $72 million to counties and
municipalities, of which $38.4 million was fine and
forfeiture revenue, and $14 million was facility fee
revenue.
Judicial Branch Budget
2012 – 13 ANNUAL REPORT | NORTH CAROLINA COURTS 17
1
Note: The certified budget
is the budget enacted by
the General Assembly. The
FY 2012 – 13 budget is used
for salaries and benefits.
Within that, 29 percent
of funds ($136.8 million)
supports constitutionally
mandated positions.
FY 2013 Clerk of Superior Court Disbursements
Total disbursed: $773.9 million
FY 2012 – 13 State General Fund Appropriations
Statewide Certified Budget Total: $20.2 billion
Judicial Branch Certified Budget: $432.8 million (2.14 percent of state general fund)
Figures shown in millions
NCAOC
$8.7
Technology
$17.5
Statewide
Infrastructure
and Equipment
$17.9
Appellate Courts
$12.7
Commissions and
Passthroughs
$2.5
Trial Courts
$266.5
District Attorneys
$89.5
Specialty Programs
$17.6
18 NORTH CAROLINA COURTS | 2012 – 13 ANNUAL REPORT
Legislative Budget Priorities
First Restore funding for the pay plans for deputy
clerks, assistant clerks, and magistrates. These pay plans
are outlined in statute; however, they have not been funded
since July 1, 2009. Consequently, all deputy clerks, assistant
clerks, and magistrates who should have received a salary
increase per their pay plans have not for four consecutive
years. Funding would begin July 1, 2013, and go through the
biennium. Retroactive funding would not be provided for the
step increases that employees did not receive from July 1,
2009, through June 30, 2013.
Actual Cost Requested: $6.1 million during FY 2014,
$9.7 million during FY 2015
Outcome: Not funded in long session; pursuing in short session
Second Provide adequate funding to meet
shortfalls in constitutionally mandated obligations. Existing
shortfalls between budgeted amounts and actual expenses,
such as expert witness fees (Racial Justice Act and jury fees)
would be funded.
Actual Cost Requested: $2.1 million annually
Outcome: $1 million annually
The past four years of the economic recession have brought trying and unprecedented times to the Judicial Branch.
During this time, the courts sustained overall budget reductions of more than $100 million, which resulted in severe
cuts to technology and the loss of 590 full-time employees statewide, many of whom took with them decades of
training and experience. During this same time period, the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts
(NCAOC) sustained a 20.12 percent reduction in its operating budget. All parts of the Judicial Branch were affected by
the recession. The Judicial Branch budget coming out of the recession was $432 million – 92 percent of which supported
salaries; the remaining 8 percent supported operations. The Judicial Branch budget is 2.14 percent of the overall state
budget. Read more about the recesssion’s effects on the Judicial Branch in the 2011 – 12 Annual Report on www.
nccourts.org.
Coming out of the recession, the NCAOC had four priorities for the Judicial Branch that they asked legislators to
consider for the 2013 – 15 biennium. These priorities represent some of the greatest needs, as well as all parts of
the state’s unified court system. The themes for requests were funding to fulfill requirements of the North Carolina
Constitution and General Statutes and to hire new employees needed as determined by workload formulas. At the
conclusion of the long session, legislators provided funding for two of the Judicial Branch’s priorities. The NCAOC
took a $4 million cut to cover some of the funded priorities. Needs not met continue to be legislative priorities for the
Judicial Branch.
Third Restore magistrate positions in 28 counties.
Given the stressful demands of 24x7 coverage, funding would
restore one magistrate in counties that were reduced to three
magistrates by previous budget cuts.
Actual Cost Requested: $1.6 million annually
Outcome: $1 million to restore 22 positions
STATE APPROPRIATED FUNDS NEEDED
FOR PRIORITIES 1, 2, AND 3 = $9.8M for FY 2014
Expansion Need Provide staff needed for
workload per §7A-343 (4) and as directed by §143C-3-2. The
NCAOC partnered with the National Center for State Courts
to complete workload formulas for all major staf groups in
the Judicial Branch. Based on workload need, an additional
792 courthouse personnel are needed.
Outcome: Not funded
TOTAL NEED FOR ALL REQUESTS TO MEET
THE STATUTORY AND WORKLOAD DEMANDS
$78.3 million of state appropriated funds
for the 2013 – 15 Biennium
2012 – 13 ANNUAL REPORT | NORTH CAROLINA COURTS 19
July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013
The North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts
(NCAOC) is the administrative services provider that
the North Carolina judicial community can rely on as
a partner to help our unified court system operate more
efficiently and effectively. Its approach is to apply its pro-fessional
expertise consistently in the best interests of the
court system, which includes an employee base of about
6,000, of which 548 are independently elected judicial
officials. This section highlights the many ways that the
NCAOC supports the court system and judicial officials
and staff statewide.
COURT PROGRAMS AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Alternative dispute resolution
2,749 family financial cases completed
3,280 court-ordered arbitration cases completed
7,412 mediated settlement cases completed
Child custody mediation
18,830 people attended orientation
11,307 mediation sessions held
10,489 child custody cases mediated
5,105 parenting agreements drafted
Language Access Services
10 NCAOC Spanish court interpreters
74 certified Spanish court interpreters
1 certified French court interpreter
1 certified Mandarin court interpreter
1 certified Vietnamese court interpreter
Family courts
44,914 domestic cases filed
81% of pending domestic cases were less than
one year old
COURT SERVICES
Computer applications supported
Child support enforcement system (SES)
Civil case management (CaseWise)
Civil, estates, and special proceedings index (VCAP)
Criminal and infractions case index (ACIS, CCIS - CC)
Criminal Case Management System (CCIS-DA, CCIS-CC)
Discovery Automation System (DAS)
eFiling
Judgment abstracting
Juvenile index and case management system (JWise)
Leave tracking system (BEACON)
Microsoft Windows® applications
North Carolina Warrant Repository System (NCAWARE)
payNCticket
Worthless check program
Technical needs supported
Digital recording of court sessions
Scanning / microfilming of paper files
Fingerprint tracking
Evidence handling
Disaster preparedness
Interfacing with other state agencies:
Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
State Bureau of Investigation (SBI)
Department of Social Services (DSS)
State Archives
Clerk of superior court procedural matters
Improved workflow and file security
Jury management support
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Court funds management
$900 million resources and fees managed
$459 million appropriations
$44 million special funds and grants
$283 million pass-through fees
$114 million other funds
Budget management
519 budget alignments
Accounting functions
$117.4 million fixed assets management
15,583 payroll payments
100,398 vendor payments
14,856 employee travel forms processed
3,187 IRS 1099 – MISC forms processed
3,397 IRS 1099 – MISC forms processed for clerks of
superior court offices
276 electronic transfers
3,065 deposits
GUARDIAN AD LITEM
Staff
3 regional administrator positions
137 field staff positions
8 administrative, training, and legal staff positions
(1 grant funded)
Attorneys
66 paid attorneys
127 pro bono attorneys
Significant NCAOC Service Area Highlights
20 NORTH CAROLINA COURTS | 2012 – 13 ANNUAL REPORT
9 staff attorney advocate positions
95 conflict attorneys
Volunteers
4,824 volunteers
463,104 hours of service
$10.3 million saved due to volunteer efforts
Volunteers donate on average 8 hours of service monthly.
Independent Sector valued volunteer time during 2012 at
$22.14 per hour.
Program statistics
54,389 child abuse and neglect hearings
15,251 abused and neglected children received
legal representation
177 juvenile appellate cases filed
HUMAN RESOURCES
Quick Facts
22 HR positions, each serve an average of 299
Judicial Branch positions
Just over 92% of the total Judicial Branch budget
is allocated for salaries and benefits
Judicial Branch FTE positions supported
(total 6,584.55)
287 hiring authorities
290 judges
5,062.15 court staff
38 commissions and conferences staff
520.5 Indigent Defense Services
386.9 NCAOC managers and staff
Number of personnel transactions
3,647
Number of position change transactions
2,902
Number of benefit actions
419 personal adjustments
37 new short-term disability cases
153 retirements
Unemployment insurance claims (total $1,015,621)
145 claims paid out
$7,004 average cost per claim
Workplace injuries (total $586,175)
61 injuries or 0.9% of employee population
Employee Assistance Program referrals (total 70)
1 management referral
69 self referrals
Retirement eligible
7.3% 1 year
12.5% 3 year
19.2% 5 year
Employee turnover (total 9.0%)
7.2% voluntary (includes retirements)
1.8% involuntary
587 total separations (excludes temporaries)
Employee recognition
1,204 service awards
153 retirement certificates
Highest pre-tax benefit participation rates
40% supplemental retirement plans
58% North Carolina Flex Dental
45% North Carolina Flex Vision
95% State Health Plan
56% North Carolina Flex AD&D Core
HR Communications
Intranet site
665 web pages
11,686 unique visitors
20,779 visits
Email news
34 email newsletters
156 articles
Policies and procedures
83 policies
532 pages
HR Training Provided
16 events with 470+ attendees
Deer Oaks EAP – 5 events with 80+ attendees
Voluntary Shared Leave
49 recipients
9,467 total hours received
193.12 average hours received
4 – 663 range of hours received
383 donors
9,363 total hours donated
24.45 average hours donated
4 – 200 range of hours donated
Recruitment
341 job postings
63,689 total applicants
186 average applicants per posting
1,629 web hits per posting
53,169 applicant notices
2012 – 13 ANNUAL REPORT | NORTH CAROLINA COURTS 21
LEGAL AND LEGISLATIVE SERVICES
Inquiries
5,000+ phone calls and emails from court officials each
month
Legislative Tracking
During the 2011 – 13 legislative sessions, legal staff
reviewed 3,946 bills for applicability and actively
monitored, appeared on, summarized the effect of,
drafted forms and procedures for, or sought
amendments for 1,108.
ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Recent Projects
Implementation of curriculum development process
Standardized course materials for foundational course
offerings
Led development of the following courses:
Criminal Monies Owed as Civil and / or Criminal
Judgments
Introduction to Juvenile
Using CCIS - CC: Essential Skills
Essential Skills for the New Estate Clerk Part 1:
Probate and Qualification
Essential Skills for New Hearing Clerks:
IncompetencyProceedings
PURCHASING
Quick Facts
~1,648 transactions processed monthly, including:
Open market solicitations through various bid processes
Purchase orders for goods and services
Supply orders via the Online Store
Printing requests submitted through the Online Store
and in hardcopy format
~525 deliveries for supplies and equipment are made
statewide monthly
~3,900 estimated number of boxes delivered per month
(for a total weight exceeding 134,000 pounds)
~23,500 pounds of material from Judicial Branch
offices statewide shredded monthly by NCAOC
Warehouse personnel
~1,253,703 impressions generated monthly by NCAOC
Print Shop for stationery and other printing requests
RESEARCH AND PLANNING
Contracts
15 counties and municipalities
91.75 FTEs
~$5.9 million
Grants
63 federal and local entities
84.38 FTEs
~$11 million
TECHNOLOGY SERVICES (as of July 31, 2013)
Criminal
1.07 million daily transactions
39.5 million criminal cases
4.9 million infraction cases
Civil
315,312 daily transactions
18 million civil cases
eCITATION
3,214 ecitations created each day
17,064 law enforcement officer users
401 law enforcement agency users
Email (January – June 2013)
58,015,581 inbound emails
14,747,564 outbound emails
44,305,640 inbound SPAM messages blocked
8,121 inbound email viruses prevented
NCAWARE
9.55 million processes (both served and unserved)
39,014 court and law enforcement users
786,180 processes available to be served
2,054 processes served each day
payNCticket®
353,532 citations disposed
More than $76 million collected
$80,876 collected daily (average)
Note: Monies collected are disbursed to state and local
government agencies as directed by the North Carolina
General Assembly.
Service Desk
82,763 call tickets logged in 2012
36,255 call tickets logged in 2013 as of June 30
Internet
159,587 hits on web calendars per day
Discovery Automation System (DAS)
113,873 case folders
505,755 documents stored
62.68 million estimated number of pages stored
22 NORTH CAROLINA COURTS | 2012 – 13 ANNUAL REPORT
Featuring
Chatham County’s 1881 Neo-Classical courthouse was
reopened in April after being destroyed by fire in March
2010. Hobbs Architects of Pittsboro focused on restoring
the character and historic appearance of the courthouse,
while including modernizations such as handicap access,
internet service, and electrical wiring.
The Chatham County Justice Center offers environmentally
sustainable features such as a geothermal heating and
cooling system and natural lighting for courtrooms. Designed
by Corley Redfoot Architects of Chapel Hill, the building is
located south of the historic courthouse.
New Courthouses that Opened in Fiscal Year 2012 – 13
CHATHAM COUNTY COURTHOUSE AND JUSTICE CENTER
DURHAM COUNTY COURTHOUSE WAKE COUNTY JUSTICE CENTER
Designed by O’Brien / Atkins Associates of Research Triangle Park, the new Durham County Courthouse and the Wake
County Justice Center have achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold and Silver ratings,
respectively. Some of the features include charging stations in the parking garage for electric vehicles, a rainwater
collection system, and 30 percent less water usage than a traditionally designed building of comparable size. The outdoor
surfaces absorb less heat from the sun, reducing the “heat island” effect of large buildings in cities.
copyright Joel Lassiter @ Lassiter Photography copyright Joel Lassiter @ Lassiter Photography
Photo by Ava Barlow Photo by Ava Barlow
PREPARED BY
901 Corporate Center Drive
Raleigh, NC 27607
919 890-1000
www.nccourts.org

North Carolina Judicial Branch
Annual Report
July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013Mission
of the North Carolina Judicial Branch
To protect and preserve the rights and liberties of all
the people, as guaranteed by the Constitutions and laws
of the United States and
North Carolina, by providing a fair, independent, and accessible forum for the just, timely,
and economical resolution of their legal affairs.2012 – 13 ANNUAL REPORT | NORTH CAROLINA COURTS 5
Table of Contents
A Special Message from the Chief Justice and the NCAOC Director
Court Organizational Structure and Routes of Appeal
Personnel and Budget Quick Facts
State Judicial Council
District Courts
Superior Courts
Court of Appeals
Supreme Court
Court Programs, Conferences, and Commissions
Judicial Branch Budget
Legislative Budget Priorities for the 2013 – 15 Biennium
Significant NCAOC Service Area Highlights
New Courthouses that Opened in Fiscal Year 2012 – 13
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
18
19
22
This Annual Report is published online at www.nccourts.org/Citizens/JData. Twenty copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $36.40 total,
or about $1.82 per copy. This annual report was printed inhouse by the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts’ Print Shop.
2012 – 13 ANNUAL REPORT | NORTH CAROLINA COURTS 7
A Special Message from the Chief Justice
and the NCAOC Director
Dear Friend of the Court,
We are pleased to provide this fiscal year 2012 – 13 Annual Report of the North Carolina Judicial Branch. We truly are
proud of our North Carolina court system, and we thank you for this opportunity to share our successes, even during
this time of economic hardship.
This report describes the North Carolina Judicial Branch and all of its component offices. This report also presents
noteworthy accomplishments of the court system during the fiscal year.
For detailed and other information visit our website, nccourts.org; see our new section, “Judicial Branch Data and
Information.” This section of the website provides annual statistical and operational reports, activities of the North
Carolina business courts, fact sheets, and other court-related data.
Your interest in the North Carolina Judicial Branch is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Sarah Parker, Chief Justice
Supreme Court of North Carolina
John W. Smith, Director
North Carolina Administrative
Office of the Courts
8 NORTH CAROLINA COURTS | 2012 – 13 ANNUAL REPORT
Court may hear appeals directly from the trial courts in
cases of significant public interest, in cases involving legal
principles of major significance, where delay would cause
substantial harm, or when the Court of Appeals docket
is unusually full.
4 Criminal cases proceed to the superior court for trial
de novo. Civil and juvenile cases proceed to the Court of
Appeals.
5 Most appeals from judicial proceedings before the
clerk are to the superior court. A few matters, such as
adoptions, are appealed to the district court.
*The district and superior courts have concurrent original jurisdiction in civil
actions (G.S. 7A-240). Currently, the district court division is the proper division
for the trial of civil actions in which the amount in controversy is $10,000 or less;
and the superior court division for matters of $10,000 or greater (G.S. 7A-243).
Due to an amendment, from August 1, 2013, through June 30, 2015, either the
district court or the superior court is the proper division for the trial of civil actions
in which the amount in controversy is between $10,000 and $25,000.
Court Organizational Structure and Routes of Appeal
2
1 Appeals from the Court of Appeals to the
Supreme Court are by right in certain cases involving
constitutional questions, and cases in which there has
been dissent in the Court of Appeals. In its discretion, the
Supreme Court may review Court of Appeals decisions in
cases of significant public interest or cases involving legal
principles of major significance, and in cases in which the
decision of the Court of Appeals appears to be in conflict
with a decision of the Supreme Court.
2 Appeals from these agencies go directly to the
Court of Appeals.
3 As a matter of right, appeals go directly to the
Supreme Court in first degree capital murder cases
in which the defendant has been sentenced to death,
in Utilities Commission general rate cases, and in
redistricting cases. In all other cases appeal as of right
is to the Court of Appeals. In its discretion, the Supreme
Decisions of Industrial Commission,
State Bar, Property Tax Commission,
Commissioner of Insurance, Department
of Health and Human Services, Secretary
of Environment and Natural Resources,
and the Utilities Commission (in cases
other than general rate cases).
Administrative Office of the Courts
serves the Judicial Branch through these
divisions: Budget Management, Court
Programs, Court Services, Financial
Services, Guardian ad Litem, Human
Resources, Legal and Legislative Services,
Organizational Development, Purchasing,
Research and Planning, Technology.
*Jurisdictional amounts were changed by the General Assembly for
the upcoming year.
*Original jurisdiction: misdemeanor cases
not assigned to magistrates; probable
cause hearings; accept guilty / no contest
pleas in certain felony cases; civil cases
$10,000* or less; juvenile proceedings;
domestic relations; mental health hospital
commitments.
Recommendations from Judicial Standards
Commission; final orders of Utilities
Commission in general rate cases.
Original jurisdiction: probate
and estates, special proceedings
(condemnations, adoptions,
partitions, foreclosures, etc.);
in certain cases, may accept
guilty pleas or admissions
of responsibility and enter
judgment.
Original jurisdiction: all felony
cases; civil cases in excess of
$10,000*; decisions of most
administrative agencies.
Clerks of
Superior Court
Clerk Personnel
District Courts
Superior Courts
NCAOC Staff
Magistrates
Court of Appeals
1
4
3
Supreme Court
4
3
Criminal Cases
(for trial de novo)
Civil and
Juvenile Cases
5
1
2
3
4
5
*Original jurisdiction: accept certain
misdemeanor guilty pleas and admission
of responsibility to infractions; worthless
check misdemeanors $2,000 or less;
small claims $5,000 or less; valuation of
property in certain estate cases.
2012 – 13 ANNUAL REPORT | NORTH CAROLINA COURTS 9
Personnel (all funding sources)
Position Total
JUSTICES AND JUDGES
*Supreme Court justices 7
*Court of Appeals judges 15
*Superior court judges 112
*District court judges 270
AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL
*District attorneys 44
Assistant district attorneys 641
*Clerks of superior court 100
Clerk personnel 2,546.30
Guardian ad Litem personnel 145.125
Magistrates 654.10
Administrative Office of the Courts 388.90
Court support staff 1,065.625
Trial court administrators 10
**Other 45
TOTAL 6,044.05
Independently elected judicial officials; the Judicial Branch has 548 .
Judicial Standards Commission, Conference of District Attorneys, Dis-pute
Resolution Commission, Conference of Clerks of Superior Court,
Innocence Inquiry Commission, Chief Justice’s Commission on Profes-sionalism,
and Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission positions.
Personnel and Budget Quick Facts
Budget
Certified Appropriations
Total certified
appropriations, 2012 – 13
$432,806,800
Percent decrease from 2011 – 12 -1.39%
Total certified appropriations as
a percent of total state
General Fund appropriations
2.14%
Workload Formulas
The North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts
(NCAOC) partners with the National Center for State
Courts to determine staffing needs for district court judg-es,
clerks of superior court staff, magistrates, assistant
district attorneys, and victim witness legal assistants.
Using extensive time study information, a case weight
based approach was employed to determine staffing
shortfalls. Using the same approach, NCAOC has
conducted workload studies for family court case
coordinators and custody mediators.
The workload and staffing needs information is used to
request, if needed, additional resources from the General
Assembly. Because the current fiscal situation does not per-mit
the filling of all vacancies, this information is the basis
of the vacancy management system. Through this system,
when resources permit some vacancies to be filled, vacan-cies
are authorized to be filled first in the offices where
workload most significantly exceeds staffing resources.
Expansion Needs
As we close out the 2011 – 13 biennium, the Judicial
Branch continues to have constitutionally mandated servic-es
that are either unfunded or underfunded. These services
include foreign language access; juror and witness fees; pay
plan restoration for assistant and deputy clerks and mag-istrates;
technology advancements; and adding employees
based on needs as determined by workload formulas.
*
**
10 NORTH CAROLINA COURTS | 2012 – 13 ANNUAL REPORT
The State Judicial Council is an advisory and oversight
body for the Judicial Branch, chaired by the chief justice
of the Supreme Court of North Carolina and consisting
of representatives from every component of the court sys-tem,
the bar, and non-attorney public members. Its gen-eral
duties (refer to the North Carolina General Statutes)
encompass studying and monitoring the operations of the
court system and identifying areas for improvement.
The Judicial Council’s specific areas of responsibility include:
Advising the chief justice on priorities for funding
Conferring with the chief justice on the budget
prepared by the North Carolina Administrative
Office of the Courts (NCAOC)
Recommending to the General Assembly the salaries
of justices and judges and changes in expense
allowances, benefits, and other compensation for
other judicial officials
Recommending the creation of judgeships
Recommending to the chief justice performance
standards for all courts and all judicial officials
Implementing guidelines for the assignment
and management of cases, including monitoring
the effectiveness of alternative dispute
resolution programs
Recommending changes to the boundaries of
judicial districts or divisions
Monitoring the administration of justice and
assessing the effectiveness of the Judicial
Branch in serving the public and advising
the chief justice and the General Assembly on
changes needed to assist the General Court of
Justice to better fulfill its mission
Members of the State Judicial Council
as of June 30, 2013
Judicial Branch Officials
Honorable Sarah Parker
Chief justice
Supreme Court of North Carolina
Judicial Council chair
Honorable John C. Martin
Chief judge
North Carolina Court of Appeals
Honorable Robert Hobgood
Senior resident superior court judge
Honorable Mac Cameron
Chief district court judge
Honorable Brad Greenway
District attorney
Honorable Archie Smith
Clerk of superior court
Ms. LeAnn Melton
Public defender
Mr. Lionel Gilbert
Magistrate
Other Members
Mr. Hugh Campbell, III
Dr. Richard Dean
Mr. Robert Harper
Mr. John Wayne Kahl
Mr. Tom Maher
Mr. Fred H. Moody
Mr. James Phillips
Mr. Edwin Speas
State Judicial Council
2012 – 13 ANNUAL REPORT | NORTH CAROLINA COURTS 11
District Courts
District courts hear cases involving civil, criminal, and
juvenile matters, as well as appeals from the magistrate.
Like superior court, district court sits in the county seat
of each county. It may also sit in certain other cities and
towns specifically authorized by the General Assembly.
Civil cases such as divorce, custody, child support, and
cases involving less than $10,000 are heard in district
court, along with criminal cases involving misdemeanors
and infractions. Civil cases are heard by a jury if a party
requests one, but certain cases are always decided by a
judge without a jury, such as child custody disputes. The
district court also hears juvenile cases (age 16 and under)
that involve delinquency issues, and it has the authority
to hear juvenile undisciplined cases (ages 16 and 17).
It also considers abuse, neglect, and dependency cases
involving children younger than 18.
Read more in the 2012 – 13 Statistical and Operational
Report for Trial Courts, which is available on the Data
and Information section of www.nccourts.org.
Magistrates
Magistrates are appointed by the senior resident superior
court judge from nominations provided by the clerk of
superior court.
Magistrates accept guilty pleas for minor misdemeanors
and infractions, such as for hunting or fishing violations
or for traffic violations, and may accept waivers of trial
for certain worthless check cases if authorized by the
chief district court judge. In civil cases, the magistrate
is authorized to try small claims cases ($5,000 or less),
landlord eviction cases, and suits for recovery of personal
property and motor vehicle mechanics’ liens.
Caseload inventory
Case type Filed Disposed
Civil 183,835 188,237
Civil magistrate
(small claims)
218,908 219,970
Criminal – nontraffic 583,286 500,383
Criminal – traffic 905,229 997,446
Infractions 592,460 641,055
Civil license
revocation
39,902 —
Manner of disposition
Case type
Jury
trial
Judge
trial
Magistrate
trial
Voluntary
dismissal
Final order /
judgment
w / o trial
Clerk Other*
Civil cases 163 62,704 97 28,698 43,352 26,308 26,915
Civil magistrate
(small claims)
2 193 151,575 47,778 244 38 20,140
“Other” includes dismissal on order of the court and discontinued dispositions.
Case type Trial Plea
Dismissal
with leave
Dismissal
without
leave
Dismissal after
deferred
prosecution
Other*
Criminal – nontraffic 20,649 182,455 16,471 284,454 18,696 120,865
Criminal – traffic 11,181 145,066 89,487 509,693 756 241,262
“Other” includes felony heard and bound over, probable cause not found, probable cause waived, worthless check waiver,
and felony superseding indictment.
*”Other” includes dismissal on order **”Other” includes felony heard and bound over, probable cause not founmd,e nprt.ob aobfl et hcea cuoseu rwt aaivnedd d, iwscoornthtilneusesd c.h eck waiver, and felony superseding indict-
Case type Waiver Nonwaiver
Infractions 304,116 336,939
*
*
12 NORTH CAROLINA COURTS | 2012 – 13 ANNUAL REPORT
Superior Courts
All felony criminal cases, civil cases involving more than
$10,000, and misdemeanor and infraction appeals from
district court are tried in superior court. A jury of 12
must decide the case for any criminal defendant who
pleads not guilty. In civil cases, a judge generally will
decide the case without a jury, unless a party to the case
requests one.
Superior court is divided into eight divisions and 50
districts across the state. Every six months, superior
court judges rotate among the districts within their
divisions. The rotation system helps minimize conflicts
of interest that might result from having a permanent
judge in one district.
The North Carolina Business Court is a specialized forum
of the North Carolina State Courts’ trial division. Cases
involving complex and significant issues of corporate
Caseload inventory
Case type Filed Disposed
Civil cases* 21,485 24,002
Estates 68,444 69,088
Special proceedings 67,638 65,239
Criminal – nontraffic 121,910 146,621
Criminal – traffic 9,891 10,479
Manner of disposition
Case type
Jury
trial
Judge
trial
Voluntary
dismissal
Final order /
Judgment w / o
trial
Clerk Other*
Civil cases 312 4,016 11,555 3,131 2,408 2,580
Estates — 2 14 13 68,866 193
Special Proceedings** 4 185 21,388 134 40,680 2,848
”Other” includes magistrate trial, dismissal on order of the court, and discontinued.
The number of Special Proceedings cases filed and disposed reflects those cases that are non-confidential.
Case type Trial Plea
Dismissal
with leave
Dismissal
without
leave
Dismissal
after deferred
prosecution
Other*
Criminal – nontraffic 2,579 77,868 2,008 47,584 894 15,688
Criminal – traffic 304 2,447 292 3,777 2 3,657
”Other” includes speedy trial dismissals.
”Civil cases” include cases heard by business court.
and commercial law in our state are assigned by the chief
justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina to a
special superior court judge who oversees resolution of all
matters in the case through trial.
Read more in the 2012 – 13 Statistical and Operational
Report for Trial Courts, which is available on the Data
and Information section of www.nccourts.org.
*
*
**
*
2012 – 13 ANNUAL REPORT | NORTH CAROLINA COURTS 13
Filings and dispositions of
appeals and petitions
Fiscal Year Filings Dispositions
2012 – 13 2,564 2,490
2011 – 12 2,594 2,775
2010 – 11 2,549 2,671
2009 – 10 2,493 2,126
2008 – 09 2,502 2,307
2007 – 08 2,424 2,567
2006 – 07 2,484 2,634
2005 – 06 2,707 2,973
2004 – 05 2,719 2,731
2003 – 04 2,674 2,562
Filings and dispositions
Cases filed Number of cases
Cases on appeal 1,565
Petitions 999
Motions 3,759
Court of Appeals
The Court of Appeals is the state’s intermediate appellate
court. The court has 15 judges who serve eight-year
terms and hear cases in panels of three. The Court of
Appeals decides only questions of law in cases appealed
from superior and district courts and from some
administrative agencies of the executive branch. Appeals
range from infractions to non-capital murder cases.
If there has been a dissent in an opinion of the Court of
Appeals, the parties to the case have the right to have the
Supreme Court review the decision. If there is no dissent,
then the Supreme Court may still review the case upon a
party’s petition.
These tables summarize filing and disposition activity in the Court of Appeals.
In addition to trend data for the past 10 years, these tables provide filings
and dispositions for cases on appeal, petitions, and motions during fiscal year
2012 – 13. “Cases on appeal” include cases appealed from district courts,
superior courts, and administrative agencies. They are counted as appeals
only after a record is filed with the clerk’s office and a docket number is
assigned. The “petition” category includes petitions involving only the four
“extraordinary” writs set out in Article V of the Rules of Appellate Procedure:
certiorari, mandamus, prohibition, and supersedeas. “Motions” encompass
any type of relief sought from the Court of Appeals, either in a case already
filed with the Court of Appeals, or one on its way to the Court of Appeals but
not yet filed.
Cases on appeal represent the largest portion of the Court of Appeals’
workload, since most are disposed by written opinion. The other methods of
disposition include the court’s dismissal of the appeal and an appealing party’s
withdrawal of the appeal.
Read more in the 2012 – 13 Statistical and Operational
Report for the Appellate Courts, which is available on the
Data and Information section of www.nccourts.org.
14 NORTH CAROLINA COURTS | 2012 – 13 ANNUAL REPORT
Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of North Carolina is the state’s
highest court, and the state has no further appeal from
its decisions. The court comprises the chief justice and
six associate justices, each of whom serves an eight-year
term. The Supreme Court makes no determination of fact;
rather, it considers whether error occurred in trial or in
judicial interpretation of the law. The chief justice also
serves as the head of the Judicial Branch.
Read more in the 2012 – 13 Statistical and Operational
Report for the Appellate Courts, which is available on the
Data and Information section of www.nccourts.org.
Petitions for review are cases in which the court is asked to accept discretionary review of decisions of the Court of Appeals and other tribunals.
The Appeals category comprises cases within the court’s appellate jurisdiction.
Caseload inventory
Cases filed
Begin pending
(7/1/12)
Filed Disposed
End pending
(6/30/13)
PETITIONS FOR REVIEW*
Civil domestic 3 18 19 2
Juvenile 1 24 17 8
Other civil 74 247 252 69
Criminal (including death sentences) 92 341 346 88
Administrative agency decision 0 2 2 0
Total petitions for review 170 632 636 166
APPEALS**
Civil domestic 2 3 3 2
Petitions for review granted that
became civil domestic appeals
0 1 0 1
Juvenile 1 0 1 0
Petitions for review granted that
became juvenile appeals
0 1 0 1
Other civil 23 37 38 22
Petitions for review granted that
became other civil appeals
0 16 15 1
Criminal, defendant sentenced
to death
2 3 4 1
Other criminal 24 56 63 17
Petitions for review granted that
became other criminal appeals
0 22 19 3
Administrative agency decision 0 0 0 0
Petitions for review granted
that became appeals of
administrative agency decision
0 0 0 0
Total appeals 52 139 143 48
OTHER PROCEEDINGS
Rule 16(b) additional issues 10 10
Motions 659 661
Total other proceedings 669 671
*
**
2012 – 13 ANNUAL REPORT | NORTH CAROLINA COURTS 15
Court Programs, Conferences, and Commissions
Program Description
Alternative dispute
resolution services
Offers a less adversarial, more expeditious process for settling legal disputes
Child custody
mediation services
Provides neutral, non-adversarial court-ordered mediation services in cases
involving custody / visitation of minor children parenting agreements
Problem solving courts
and other services
Local special courts and initiatives managed and operated by superior and
district courts that attempt to address challenges before them
Foreign language
interpreting services
Helps facilitate equal access to justice for limited English proficient (LEP)
speaking and / or deaf and hard of hearing people involved in court proceedings
Guardian ad Litem
Team representation model consisting of attorney advocates, volunteers,
and staff appointed to protect and promote the best interest of abused and
neglected children under the jurisdiction of North Carolina juvenile courts
Juvenile Court
Improvement Project
Coordinates the management of child abuse, neglect, and dependency cases to
ensure timely, efficient, and effective resolution of cases
Unified family court
Coordinates the management of family law cases to ensure timely and efficient
resolution of legal matters within established time standards
Conference Description
Conference of Clerks
of Superior Court
Serves as the primary point of contact between the 100 elected clerks of
superior court, the General Assembly, the NCAOC, and other state, local, and
public entities to ensure the effective and efficient exchange of information
Conference of District Attorneys
The Conference of District Attorneys serves the 44 Elected District Attorneys in
their pursuit of justice and improvement of the administration of criminal law
by providing training, materials, research, technical support and monitoring
criminal legislation.
Commission Description
Chief Justice’s Commission
on Professionalism
Enhances professionalism among North Carolina’s lawyers while providing
ongoing attention and assistance to ensure the practice of law remains a high
calling, dedicated to the service of clients and the public good
Dispute Resolution Commission
Certifies and regulates private mediators who serve North Carolina’s courts.
Also recommends dispute resolution policy, provides support to court-based
mediation programs and certifies mediation training programs
Innocence Inquiry Commission
Reviews, investigates, and hears post-conviction innocence claims if new
evidence of innocence comes to light by providing an independent and
balanced truth-seeking forum
Judicial Standards Commission
Considers complaints against state district, superior, and appellate court judges
and justices and, where appropriate, makes recommendations for discipline
Sentencing and Policy Advisory
Commission
Makes recommendations to the General Assembly for the modification of
sentencing laws and policies, and for the addition, deletion, or expansion of
sentencing options as necessary to achieve policy goals
State Judicial Council
Advisory and oversight body for the Judicial Branch of government, chaired
by the chief justice of the Supreme Court and consisting of representatives
from every component of the court system, the bar, and public, non-attorney
members to fulfill its duties as described in G.S. 7A-409.1
16 NORTH CAROLINA COURTS | 2012 – 13 ANNUAL REPORT
Detailed budget information is in the Financial Statistical
and Operational Report on www.nccourts.org.
Background
Under the North Carolina Constitution, the Judicial
Branch is established as an equal branch of state govern-ment
with the legislative and executive branches. North
Carolina’s court system, called the General Court of
Justice, is a unified statewide and state-operated system.
The majority of operating expenses of the Judicial
Branch are paid by the state, including salaries and travel
expenses of all court officials, juror and witness fees, and
equipment and office supplies for the judicial system. By
state statute, G.S. 7A – 302, counties and municipalities
are responsible for the physical facilities occupied by
court personnel across the state.
The chief justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina
appoints the director of the North Carolina Administra-tive
Office of the Courts (NCAOC). G.S. 7A – 343 sets
forth the duties of the director, which include identifying
staffing needs and managing and authorizing expenditures
for the judicial budget.
Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2012 – 13 Budget
The Judicial Branch began fiscal year (FY) 2012 – 13 with
$432.8 million in appropriations from the General
Assembly; this appropriation represents 2.14 percent of
the state’s overall General Fund of $20.2 billion.
Reductions to the 2012 – 13 Budget
Total cuts to the Judicial Branch budget for FY 2012 – 13
were $44.3 million, approximately 9 percent of the
$459,330,244 projected budget for the fiscal year.
How the Budget is Spent
Of the Judicial Branch’s $432.8 million adjusted budget
as approved by the General Assembly, 92 percent of it
was used for employee salaries and benefits; this includes
$136.8 million used to pay salaries and benefits for
elected judicial officials, magistrates, and appointed
officials whose offices are constitutionally based.
The remaining 8 percent of the Judicial Branch
FY 2012 – 13 budget supported operations. Nearly
86 percent of the budget was devoted to local court
operations; central administration accounted for 3
percent; and technology services, equipment, and
statewide infrastructure together accounted for 8 percent.
Appellate courts, independent commissions, and pass-through
appropriations accounted for the remaining 3
percent (Chart 2, next page).
Monies Collected by the Courts
Do Not Stay with the Courts
Monies disbursed – such as fines, fees, forfeitures,
restitution, and civil judgments that are paid to the
courts – come through clerk of superior court offices.
Although the monies are collected and receipted by
the courts, less than one percent of these monies stays
with the court system. Monies are remitted to citizens,
counties, the state treasurer, and other state agencies.
For FY 2012 – 13, $773.9 million was disbursed by clerks
of superior court – more than 43 percent went to the
state treasurer, other state agencies, and law enforcement
retirement (Chart 1). Of the General Court of Justice
monies remitted to the state treasurer, funds equivalent to
55 percent were appropriated by the General Assembly to
the Judicial Branch.
Counties and municipalities receive payments for fines,
forfeitures (i.e., bond forfeitures), facilities fees, officer
fees, pretrial civil revocation fees, service of process fees,
and jail fees. City crime labs receive fees paid by offenders
for lab work conducted at their facilities. Fines and
forfeitures, which are required by the State Constitution
to go to local schools, make up the largest sum of money
received by counties. Facilities fees, which are paid as
part of court costs in both criminal and civil cases, are the
next largest source of revenue. In FY 2012 – 13, the court
system disbursed nearly $72 million to counties and
municipalities, of which $38.4 million was fine and
forfeiture revenue, and $14 million was facility fee
revenue.
Judicial Branch Budget
2012 – 13 ANNUAL REPORT | NORTH CAROLINA COURTS 17
1
Note: The certified budget
is the budget enacted by
the General Assembly. The
FY 2012 – 13 budget is used
for salaries and benefits.
Within that, 29 percent
of funds ($136.8 million)
supports constitutionally
mandated positions.
FY 2013 Clerk of Superior Court Disbursements
Total disbursed: $773.9 million
FY 2012 – 13 State General Fund Appropriations
Statewide Certified Budget Total: $20.2 billion
Judicial Branch Certified Budget: $432.8 million (2.14 percent of state general fund)
Figures shown in millions
NCAOC
$8.7
Technology
$17.5
Statewide
Infrastructure
and Equipment
$17.9
Appellate Courts
$12.7
Commissions and
Passthroughs
$2.5
Trial Courts
$266.5
District Attorneys
$89.5
Specialty Programs
$17.6
18 NORTH CAROLINA COURTS | 2012 – 13 ANNUAL REPORT
Legislative Budget Priorities
First Restore funding for the pay plans for deputy
clerks, assistant clerks, and magistrates. These pay plans
are outlined in statute; however, they have not been funded
since July 1, 2009. Consequently, all deputy clerks, assistant
clerks, and magistrates who should have received a salary
increase per their pay plans have not for four consecutive
years. Funding would begin July 1, 2013, and go through the
biennium. Retroactive funding would not be provided for the
step increases that employees did not receive from July 1,
2009, through June 30, 2013.
Actual Cost Requested: $6.1 million during FY 2014,
$9.7 million during FY 2015
Outcome: Not funded in long session; pursuing in short session
Second Provide adequate funding to meet
shortfalls in constitutionally mandated obligations. Existing
shortfalls between budgeted amounts and actual expenses,
such as expert witness fees (Racial Justice Act and jury fees)
would be funded.
Actual Cost Requested: $2.1 million annually
Outcome: $1 million annually
The past four years of the economic recession have brought trying and unprecedented times to the Judicial Branch.
During this time, the courts sustained overall budget reductions of more than $100 million, which resulted in severe
cuts to technology and the loss of 590 full-time employees statewide, many of whom took with them decades of
training and experience. During this same time period, the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts
(NCAOC) sustained a 20.12 percent reduction in its operating budget. All parts of the Judicial Branch were affected by
the recession. The Judicial Branch budget coming out of the recession was $432 million – 92 percent of which supported
salaries; the remaining 8 percent supported operations. The Judicial Branch budget is 2.14 percent of the overall state
budget. Read more about the recesssion’s effects on the Judicial Branch in the 2011 – 12 Annual Report on www.
nccourts.org.
Coming out of the recession, the NCAOC had four priorities for the Judicial Branch that they asked legislators to
consider for the 2013 – 15 biennium. These priorities represent some of the greatest needs, as well as all parts of
the state’s unified court system. The themes for requests were funding to fulfill requirements of the North Carolina
Constitution and General Statutes and to hire new employees needed as determined by workload formulas. At the
conclusion of the long session, legislators provided funding for two of the Judicial Branch’s priorities. The NCAOC
took a $4 million cut to cover some of the funded priorities. Needs not met continue to be legislative priorities for the
Judicial Branch.
Third Restore magistrate positions in 28 counties.
Given the stressful demands of 24x7 coverage, funding would
restore one magistrate in counties that were reduced to three
magistrates by previous budget cuts.
Actual Cost Requested: $1.6 million annually
Outcome: $1 million to restore 22 positions
STATE APPROPRIATED FUNDS NEEDED
FOR PRIORITIES 1, 2, AND 3 = $9.8M for FY 2014
Expansion Need Provide staff needed for
workload per §7A-343 (4) and as directed by §143C-3-2. The
NCAOC partnered with the National Center for State Courts
to complete workload formulas for all major staf groups in
the Judicial Branch. Based on workload need, an additional
792 courthouse personnel are needed.
Outcome: Not funded
TOTAL NEED FOR ALL REQUESTS TO MEET
THE STATUTORY AND WORKLOAD DEMANDS
$78.3 million of state appropriated funds
for the 2013 – 15 Biennium
2012 – 13 ANNUAL REPORT | NORTH CAROLINA COURTS 19
July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013
The North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts
(NCAOC) is the administrative services provider that
the North Carolina judicial community can rely on as
a partner to help our unified court system operate more
efficiently and effectively. Its approach is to apply its pro-fessional
expertise consistently in the best interests of the
court system, which includes an employee base of about
6,000, of which 548 are independently elected judicial
officials. This section highlights the many ways that the
NCAOC supports the court system and judicial officials
and staff statewide.
COURT PROGRAMS AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Alternative dispute resolution
2,749 family financial cases completed
3,280 court-ordered arbitration cases completed
7,412 mediated settlement cases completed
Child custody mediation
18,830 people attended orientation
11,307 mediation sessions held
10,489 child custody cases mediated
5,105 parenting agreements drafted
Language Access Services
10 NCAOC Spanish court interpreters
74 certified Spanish court interpreters
1 certified French court interpreter
1 certified Mandarin court interpreter
1 certified Vietnamese court interpreter
Family courts
44,914 domestic cases filed
81% of pending domestic cases were less than
one year old
COURT SERVICES
Computer applications supported
Child support enforcement system (SES)
Civil case management (CaseWise)
Civil, estates, and special proceedings index (VCAP)
Criminal and infractions case index (ACIS, CCIS - CC)
Criminal Case Management System (CCIS-DA, CCIS-CC)
Discovery Automation System (DAS)
eFiling
Judgment abstracting
Juvenile index and case management system (JWise)
Leave tracking system (BEACON)
Microsoft Windows® applications
North Carolina Warrant Repository System (NCAWARE)
payNCticket
Worthless check program
Technical needs supported
Digital recording of court sessions
Scanning / microfilming of paper files
Fingerprint tracking
Evidence handling
Disaster preparedness
Interfacing with other state agencies:
Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
State Bureau of Investigation (SBI)
Department of Social Services (DSS)
State Archives
Clerk of superior court procedural matters
Improved workflow and file security
Jury management support
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Court funds management
$900 million resources and fees managed
$459 million appropriations
$44 million special funds and grants
$283 million pass-through fees
$114 million other funds
Budget management
519 budget alignments
Accounting functions
$117.4 million fixed assets management
15,583 payroll payments
100,398 vendor payments
14,856 employee travel forms processed
3,187 IRS 1099 – MISC forms processed
3,397 IRS 1099 – MISC forms processed for clerks of
superior court offices
276 electronic transfers
3,065 deposits
GUARDIAN AD LITEM
Staff
3 regional administrator positions
137 field staff positions
8 administrative, training, and legal staff positions
(1 grant funded)
Attorneys
66 paid attorneys
127 pro bono attorneys
Significant NCAOC Service Area Highlights
20 NORTH CAROLINA COURTS | 2012 – 13 ANNUAL REPORT
9 staff attorney advocate positions
95 conflict attorneys
Volunteers
4,824 volunteers
463,104 hours of service
$10.3 million saved due to volunteer efforts
Volunteers donate on average 8 hours of service monthly.
Independent Sector valued volunteer time during 2012 at
$22.14 per hour.
Program statistics
54,389 child abuse and neglect hearings
15,251 abused and neglected children received
legal representation
177 juvenile appellate cases filed
HUMAN RESOURCES
Quick Facts
22 HR positions, each serve an average of 299
Judicial Branch positions
Just over 92% of the total Judicial Branch budget
is allocated for salaries and benefits
Judicial Branch FTE positions supported
(total 6,584.55)
287 hiring authorities
290 judges
5,062.15 court staff
38 commissions and conferences staff
520.5 Indigent Defense Services
386.9 NCAOC managers and staff
Number of personnel transactions
3,647
Number of position change transactions
2,902
Number of benefit actions
419 personal adjustments
37 new short-term disability cases
153 retirements
Unemployment insurance claims (total $1,015,621)
145 claims paid out
$7,004 average cost per claim
Workplace injuries (total $586,175)
61 injuries or 0.9% of employee population
Employee Assistance Program referrals (total 70)
1 management referral
69 self referrals
Retirement eligible
7.3% 1 year
12.5% 3 year
19.2% 5 year
Employee turnover (total 9.0%)
7.2% voluntary (includes retirements)
1.8% involuntary
587 total separations (excludes temporaries)
Employee recognition
1,204 service awards
153 retirement certificates
Highest pre-tax benefit participation rates
40% supplemental retirement plans
58% North Carolina Flex Dental
45% North Carolina Flex Vision
95% State Health Plan
56% North Carolina Flex AD&D Core
HR Communications
Intranet site
665 web pages
11,686 unique visitors
20,779 visits
Email news
34 email newsletters
156 articles
Policies and procedures
83 policies
532 pages
HR Training Provided
16 events with 470+ attendees
Deer Oaks EAP – 5 events with 80+ attendees
Voluntary Shared Leave
49 recipients
9,467 total hours received
193.12 average hours received
4 – 663 range of hours received
383 donors
9,363 total hours donated
24.45 average hours donated
4 – 200 range of hours donated
Recruitment
341 job postings
63,689 total applicants
186 average applicants per posting
1,629 web hits per posting
53,169 applicant notices
2012 – 13 ANNUAL REPORT | NORTH CAROLINA COURTS 21
LEGAL AND LEGISLATIVE SERVICES
Inquiries
5,000+ phone calls and emails from court officials each
month
Legislative Tracking
During the 2011 – 13 legislative sessions, legal staff
reviewed 3,946 bills for applicability and actively
monitored, appeared on, summarized the effect of,
drafted forms and procedures for, or sought
amendments for 1,108.
ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Recent Projects
Implementation of curriculum development process
Standardized course materials for foundational course
offerings
Led development of the following courses:
Criminal Monies Owed as Civil and / or Criminal
Judgments
Introduction to Juvenile
Using CCIS - CC: Essential Skills
Essential Skills for the New Estate Clerk Part 1:
Probate and Qualification
Essential Skills for New Hearing Clerks:
IncompetencyProceedings
PURCHASING
Quick Facts
~1,648 transactions processed monthly, including:
Open market solicitations through various bid processes
Purchase orders for goods and services
Supply orders via the Online Store
Printing requests submitted through the Online Store
and in hardcopy format
~525 deliveries for supplies and equipment are made
statewide monthly
~3,900 estimated number of boxes delivered per month
(for a total weight exceeding 134,000 pounds)
~23,500 pounds of material from Judicial Branch
offices statewide shredded monthly by NCAOC
Warehouse personnel
~1,253,703 impressions generated monthly by NCAOC
Print Shop for stationery and other printing requests
RESEARCH AND PLANNING
Contracts
15 counties and municipalities
91.75 FTEs
~$5.9 million
Grants
63 federal and local entities
84.38 FTEs
~$11 million
TECHNOLOGY SERVICES (as of July 31, 2013)
Criminal
1.07 million daily transactions
39.5 million criminal cases
4.9 million infraction cases
Civil
315,312 daily transactions
18 million civil cases
eCITATION
3,214 ecitations created each day
17,064 law enforcement officer users
401 law enforcement agency users
Email (January – June 2013)
58,015,581 inbound emails
14,747,564 outbound emails
44,305,640 inbound SPAM messages blocked
8,121 inbound email viruses prevented
NCAWARE
9.55 million processes (both served and unserved)
39,014 court and law enforcement users
786,180 processes available to be served
2,054 processes served each day
payNCticket®
353,532 citations disposed
More than $76 million collected
$80,876 collected daily (average)
Note: Monies collected are disbursed to state and local
government agencies as directed by the North Carolina
General Assembly.
Service Desk
82,763 call tickets logged in 2012
36,255 call tickets logged in 2013 as of June 30
Internet
159,587 hits on web calendars per day
Discovery Automation System (DAS)
113,873 case folders
505,755 documents stored
62.68 million estimated number of pages stored
22 NORTH CAROLINA COURTS | 2012 – 13 ANNUAL REPORT
Featuring
Chatham County’s 1881 Neo-Classical courthouse was
reopened in April after being destroyed by fire in March
2010. Hobbs Architects of Pittsboro focused on restoring
the character and historic appearance of the courthouse,
while including modernizations such as handicap access,
internet service, and electrical wiring.
The Chatham County Justice Center offers environmentally
sustainable features such as a geothermal heating and
cooling system and natural lighting for courtrooms. Designed
by Corley Redfoot Architects of Chapel Hill, the building is
located south of the historic courthouse.
New Courthouses that Opened in Fiscal Year 2012 – 13
CHATHAM COUNTY COURTHOUSE AND JUSTICE CENTER
DURHAM COUNTY COURTHOUSE WAKE COUNTY JUSTICE CENTER
Designed by O’Brien / Atkins Associates of Research Triangle Park, the new Durham County Courthouse and the Wake
County Justice Center have achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold and Silver ratings,
respectively. Some of the features include charging stations in the parking garage for electric vehicles, a rainwater
collection system, and 30 percent less water usage than a traditionally designed building of comparable size. The outdoor
surfaces absorb less heat from the sun, reducing the “heat island” effect of large buildings in cities.
copyright Joel Lassiter @ Lassiter Photography copyright Joel Lassiter @ Lassiter Photography
Photo by Ava Barlow Photo by Ava Barlow
PREPARED BY
901 Corporate Center Drive
Raleigh, NC 27607
919 890-1000
www.nccourts.org